I realize now that my jumping between Pepper and Tony and the whole days countdown thing, is confusing.
Sorry for that, I have written all four chapters as one and then broken them up, so I forget to make connections between them at times. Here's a small timeline:
Three days before the Full Moon
Pepper is taken from the Temple (chapter 10)
Two days before the Full Moon
Tony steals the invitation, goes to the Palace and goes for dinner, where Pepper is presented. (chapters 11, 13)
He also does some exploring (this chapter)
Pepper meets Eleta and Dante and experiences the drugging of the Moonlight Flower (chapter 12)
One day before the Full Moon (coming soon)
Oracle Ceremony
Once again, sorry for the vagueness.
I've made a map of the Palace and the surrounding area. FF will not let me embed a link or an image, so to view the image, please visit my tumblr page: top-dawg27 and see the post: /image/168437203656
A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi
Translation: A precipice in front, wolves behind
It was midnight and Tony snuck out of his room, determined to sneak around. Le Loup was too tired from all his coordination efforts with Carinthia's knights, to join him. He was however, extremely skeptical on whether Tony could control himself from rescuing Pepper and jeopardizing the quest.
I just want to find out where Pepper is being held and meet her. That's it. No heroics, no scenes.
His room was on the second floor. He was going to start from the ground floor, search for Pepper and work his way upwards.
He had just reached the staircase, when he saw a horseman ascending them. He turned quickly, hoping to avoid a confrontation. but it was too late. The horseman saw him and rapidly climbed the stairs. He growled out, "Go back to your room. No wandering allowed."
Instead of violence, Tony decided to try something new. "Say, friend..." he wheedled closer to the horseman, "how about I give you something to pretend you never saw me and look the other way? Hmmmmm..."
And Tony pulled out a small bag of coins and offered them to the horseman.
He sighed as the horseman snorted derisively and made to pull out his sword. "Alright, alright, I'm going back." He walked back to his room door, opened it and went inside. He stood there, thinking.
It just won't do to start a fight. I must be silent.
He waited for ten minutes, then opened his bedroom room very slowly so that there was a tiny crack, which he peered through, cautiously.
The coast seems clear.
He wriggled out and thought, Now how do I get downstairs? There is bound to be someone going up or down.
He absently stared down the corridor and smiled as he saw a terrace at far end. He jogged quietly to it and picked its lock to open its doors.
Once outside, Tony saw that the balcony overlooked the back side of the Palace. He could see a small dock and gasped. Is this the canal behind the Temple? The one that the priests used to transport Pepper here?
It must be it. That is how the Menolestes can bring people to the Palace undetected. They have their own tiny dock within the Palace's space! I've got to get down. Wait, wait... what about Pepper? She's somewhere in the Palace. I've got to go find her.
The Dragon whispered soothingly, You have one more day, Tony. You can find Pepper then. Go explore this dock first.
Tony very, very reluctantly agreed.
Alright. I will... let go of finding Pepper... just for today. Can I climb down here?
He looked over the edge of the balcony. There is a ledge and there seems to be another terrace. I can lower myself down onto the ledge, then dangle and roll to the first floor terrace.
The balcony edge helpfully had a sturdy railing and Tony swung one foot over it, grasped it firmly and then swung his other foot over and turned. He was now facing the terrace door.
He took a deep breath and the Dragon whispered, careful, Anthony, careful.
He crouched against the railing, then catching it tightly with both hands, gingerly stepped backwards off the ledge into emptiness, such that his feet were dangling off the ledge.
He then slid his hands slowly down the railing and caught the edge of the ledge. He could see the terrace below. Easy does it, Tony, swing forward gently and slowly let go of the railing, to fall onto the terrace below.
He did so slowly and fell lightly, rolling, so that his knees would be protected. He stood up gingerly. There wasn't much distance between the terraces, thanks to the ledge but the impact still hurt slightly.
Then he tensed as he noticed there was a only single terrace door and the terrace itself, was smaller than the third floor's. And it did not seem to connect to a corridor...
Uh oh... what... is that a chair... wait, where have I landed?
He slowly stepped towards the door. There were heavy curtains draped on its sides. Tony widened his eyes with horror as he stood in the door. Shit, this is someone's bedroom! He looked around rapidly. Okay, no one is here right now but I need to leave.
Then he heard the lock click and saw that the bedroom's door was being opened slowly. He quickly stepped back onto the terrace and hid himself behind the window, hoping the curtains would cover him. Whoever you are, please do not step on the terrace. Please do not step on the terrace.
He watched as he could faintly see the outline of someone walking through the bedroom, put something down on the bed and stride to the bathroom.
He tip-toed into the room, rounded the bed and crept out towards the door. He was just going to open the door when the bathroom door opened and he heard a feminine gasp.
Tony gulped hard. Suddenly he noticed the sweet fragrance in the room. Just my luck! This is a woman's room! Act natural. Act like you've just entered the room.
He swiveled neatly in place and tried to act nonchalant, leaning against the door. The woman in question, was from the party of Picaros, a tall, buxom blonde with doe shaped eyes and full lips. She didn't scream but regarded him curiously.
He gave her what he hoped was a reassuringly smile. She smiled back at him.
Anthony, use that infamous Stark charm and charm your way out of this, muttered the dragon.
Tony said smoothly, "I'm so sorry, madam, it appears I'm in the wrong room."
He made to turn but she said hesitantly, "Count?"
He nodded. "Yes, I'm Count Rupert." He bowed deeply. "And you are?"
"Christine."
"Well, Christine, good night."
She said something to him in a foreign tongue, all rrrss and ssss, smiling at him in a very inappropriate manner.
What... is she saying?
He raised his hands and tried to gesture that he didn't understand. She smiled even more deeply, dimples appearing on her cheek.
Tony quirked one eye brow at her and suddenly, she strode quickly to him and pressed herself against him urgently. He was so shocked, he stood still, not moving as she kissed him passionately.
I hope you do not need a translation to understand what she wants! Guffawed the Dragon as Tony stood there frozen, as the woman kept rubbing herself against him senously.
Tony caught her firmly by the shoulders and held her away. She stared at him seductively and he said sternly, "Christine..." she nodded. "No, no, I cannot." She looked confused and said something rapidly in her language. Tony touched his lips and then shook his head negatively hard. She stepped away then.
He gestured at himself, "I"
placed his hand over his heart "
love"
and then made a flying away motion, "someone else."
She seemed to think and he exhaled in relief. Then she passionately kissed him again and he jerked away.
Alright, how do I turn down a lady nicely? Dragon, stop laughing. I do not want her to make a fuss.
The woman seemed to take Tony's reluctance to kiss her as a challenge. She shimmered closer, eyes waggling seductively at Tony. He gulped, then he saw the wine glass by the bed and got an idea.
He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. She sighed lovingly at that and then he picked up the glass and gestured at it, saying, "I want some wine. Wine!" he pretended there was a bottle that he was raising to his lips.
She shook her head negatively. and he made a moue theatrically. Then he pantomimed the whole action of getting more wine and coming back in 5 minutes. She seemed to understand that because she relaxed and laid back on the pillows. Tony smiled down at her, waved and bolted out of the room.
He didn't look left or right, he just ran as quietly as possible until he reached the end of the corridor, where there was yet another terrace.
Now why didn't I land on this terrace then? He walked onto it and looked up. There was no balcony above. So that explains that. Now what? He went to the edge of the terrace and saw the Palace gardens below. Ah, something soft to land on this time.
He once again lowered himself to the lower level from the terrace, landing this time in the lush greenery of the garden. He was in the middle of the garden.
Now to get to that canal and boat. But I cannot go from the front of the garden. I must circle around the back.
Tony walked through the garden, circling the Palace for at least half an hour, before he finally reached the other terrace. There weren't any patrolling horsemen here for some reason.
They must be inside, guarding the candidates.
He could see the small low dock and the canal. There were three small rafts moored there, along with the same white boat that the priests used to transport Pepper from the Temple.
He walked to the edge and looked down the left side of the canal.
Hmm, so that's the city and away from the Palace. When he looked the other way, he realized, there was a bend nearby in the water way. Thick trees surrounded the curve, so he couldn't see past it.
What lies after the bend? Whispered the Dragon, suddenly alert.
Tony snorted. The end of the canal, most probably. Why do we care about that?"
The Dragon hissed. I have a feeling about this way, Tony. We must go there.
Tony was going to argue when he heard the sound of voices approaching.
Shit! Got to get under the dock! Where else can I hide?! He entered the water and swam under the dock and then surfaced. His head nearly touched the dock's wooden path above him, so his nose was barely above the line of water. He floated there silently and sure enough, two pairs of footsteps fell on the dock. From their heavy tread and the smell of incense, I would guess they are priests.
The water rippled as they lowered themselves into the white boat. They mustn't see you, quick, submerge! He took a deep breath and did so.
Underwater, he watched the boat move away from the dock slowly. He stayed underwater for a minute, then he surfaced, just at the surface and blew out to exhale. The boat had rowed away now and Tony moved under the dock towards its other side. He slowly raised his head above the level of the dock to peer at the boat.
They are rowing towards the bend! Okay, now I'm curious. I cannot follow them by boat. Can I run there and catch up with them?
He waited till the boat moved beyond the bend, so that he would be out of sight. Then Tony pulled up his soaked pants to his knees and started to run towards the bend.
He panted lightly with the exertion, running over green grass and shrubs. When he reached the bend, the foliage thickened, so he began to work his way through the trees. He could hear an owl hooting derisively as he followed the canal bed at a safe distance. Luckily, the waxing moon provided enough light for him to see where he was going.
He heard voices muttering ahead and he began to creep forward carefully, taking care not to step on any twigs. He could now clearly hear at least 3 or 4 different people talking to each other.
He stopped as he could see flatland ahead. If I come out in the open, they will see me. I need to remain in the shrubbery.
He lowered himself to all fours and began to crawl towards the edge of the shrubbery. Tony realized the canal ended here, in a pool of water surrounded by thick grass and tall trees. The landscape was scenically picturesque. The pool itself was huge and shimmered eerily in the moonlight. I wonder how deep the water is.
Tony saw four people huddled together at the edge of the lake, close to him.
There, fat frog priests and ... Tony bit his tongue hard to prevent himself from expressing his shock out loud. It was at the sight of the tall, mustachioed man, standing in the huddle, deep in conversation with the tattooed priest. Consarn it! It is that damn Captain! Finally I have proof he is here !
The Dragon roared loudly in his head, his exclamation suiting Tony's excitement.
He wanted nothing more than to charge out of the shrubbery and and knock the Captain into the lake. But he controlled himself.
I'm going to find him and finish him off his time. Even if I have to burn him to do so. But now...
He strained to hear what they were saying. He could only hear snatches of the conversation, 'after the Ceremony' and ' Is drugging needed?' and "Do we need a small troop?".
He watched as they stood there for another 5 minutes and then walked back to the boat. Tony made himself completely flat on the ground as he saw the boat move away from the pond. He could clearly see the Captain now, sitting at the stern of the boat.
Sarding undead bastard with his pelisse.
Then he heard the tattooed priest say loudly, "So Captain, how do you like the Lacus Norturona?"
The captain replied in his gravelly tones. "I do not bother for the landscape. What about the Being? How sure are you of a candidate being chosen?"
Tony heard the priest reply soothingly, "Patience, Captain, patience... the Being decides all."
As the boat rounded the bend, Tony just caught the last sentence of the Captain's growl. "My master grows impatient, you priest. The Being better be what you promised..." .
They faded out of sight and hearing range and Tony decided to get a closer look at the pond. He stood up and walked back to the clearing and stepped onto the lush green grass.
So quiet, so peaceful out here.Then the waxing moon shifted out from behind a cloud and was reflected in the water.
Tony watched in awe as the water began to ripple and shine as the light fell on it.
As if someone is caressing it... what magic is this, Dragon?
I do not know but it is so beautiful...
Tony stroked his beard thoughtfully. It is clear the Menolestes and the Chonsario are working together for different results. The Captain is answering to someone. A master. I remember him mentioning someone during the battle for the Village."
For some reason, he shuddered as he recalled the dying words of the Captain on the battlefield. " You are everything the Orb said and more. My master will be so pleased. Lord Stark, you have been judged."
I wonder, Dragon, what is so special about this place, that the priests revere it so? And why did they bring the Captain here? Too many questions, too many unknowns... He signed tiredly. And I have no idea where Pepper is and what she's going through.
Go back to your room and rest, Anthony. Tomorrow is the Oracle Ceremony. We may get some answers after it.
Tony nodded and began the long walk back to his room in the Palace.
Pepper sat on the white cot, thinking. After being presented, they were brought straight back to their rooms and locked in for the night. No dinner for them as a priest sneeringly told them, an empty stomach was needed for tomorrow's 'preparation'.
Eleta was gently snoring as she slept deeply. Poor child, she was taken from her parents in the Marketplace. I remember now, she is the girl, whose name, I heard mentioned by her mother and the shopkeeper rudely told her mother, it was an honor to be chosen by the Menolestes. What will happen to her, if she is chosen as the Oracle? Tony and I have to stop this.
Pepper smiled softly in the darkness as she remembered seeing Tony in the Dining Hall. The scoutmaster was right, Tony really is the perfect Count, so magnificently noble. He looked so handsome in that red military coat and his boots. My lion in winter, transformed into a palatial beast of power, complete with signet ring. I wish... I wish... I wished we could have danced together. If only for the last time... One last dance with Tony...
She lay down and slept well, for this evening, she was free from the drowsiness of the drugs.
